By Tommy Osborne

Special Olympics Bowling

International bowling competitor looking forward to 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games

May 27, 2025 | 4:45 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games gets closer, one ten-pin bowler is getting really excited for the provincial competition. Linda Renner, a bowler of more than three decades, has competed in two world championships in Los Angeles and Dubai, and she is looking forward to using that experience to strengthen her performance.

“It was good, I got to meet a lot of countries, and it was fun,” Renner said, on her experience in the tournaments.

“I’m used to being in provincials and everything else, so it’s easy for me,” she continued, when speaking on how that experience will help her in the upcoming games.

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Renner is one of 12 athletes on the ten-pin bowling team, and she’s been helping some of the other bowlers get prepared for the provincial games. She says it’s all about staying positive and always encouraging your teammates, even if some throws don’t go your way.

“All you gotta do is encourage them, like encourage them and tell them that it doesn’t matter what their score is. Just encourage them, tell them to have fun, and that’s the main object,” Renner said.

Her teammates have certainly enjoyed the positivity and encouragement from Renner. While she certainly isn’t the only one encouraging her teammates, as the entire team atmosphere is very positive and all the athletes help lift each other up, she certainly helps to further create a sense of community for all teammates.

“Being with everyone, and just being a team (is my favourite thing about bowling),” said Carol West, a fellow bowler.

Ten-pin bowling is unique among some of the other Special Olympics sports, as Prince George is the only community in its region to offer the sport. Thus, all 12 members of the team are from Prince George.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for family, friends, support workers, to come and cheer on our athletes,” said the team’s Head Coach Tracy Cole.

While the team certainly has its hopes on earning some medals, the members echoed Renner’s ideas that the most important thing is to always stay positive and have fun.

“It’s really positive for these folks to have this experience, they’re competing against people who have the same abilities and disabilities they have. And I know my daughter loves it, she’s in at least six Special Olympics sports,” said Paul Raines.

Ten-pin bowling is just one of many sports coming to Prince George, as the upcoming provincial games will bring in more than 1200 athletes from across the province.

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